November is a busy time for feminists.  It is, of course, 16 Days For The Elimination Of Violence Against Women, when more events than you can shake a (non-phallic?) stick at are on across the country.

This year, GFN kicked off the 16 Days of Action with a planned candle-lit vigil in the city centre.  Sex crime in Glasgow has now reached a 5 year high, and over the period 2010-11, more than 910 sex-related crimes were reported.  The rape conviction rate remains at a horrifyingly low 3% (which, in itself is less that half the UK average).

Unfortunately, turn-out at this vigil (our second) was very low and I think we didn’t make anywhere near as much of an impact as we would have liked.  We did have a speech made by the lovely Sandy Brindley of Rape Crisis Scotland (you can watch it here, on our official YouTube channel), and then we handed out flyers and info cards.

Following our event, there was the annual Reclaim The Night walk, organised by Rape Crisis.  This got a good turn-out and we walked to the sound of Sheboom and then gathered to hear some from Rape Crisis talk and then a short feminist sing-along with the Rape Crisis choir!

Today, of course, is the strike and picket-line action, so good luck to all of you who’re out there.  The cuts that are being brought in, and those that have already been implemented, routinely hit women hardest, so if you can go along and show some support, please do it.  And if you can’t make it, then respect any picket lines you come across!

You can find a full list of Glasgow’s 16 Days events here.